u/hopeful-202

Okay, Reddit… I have absolutely no idea if I’m doing this right. I’ve never really used Reddit before, so if I’m breaking some kind of posting rule or putting this in the wrong place, please forgive me. 😂

I’m hoping some of you woodworking guys might be able to help me with something that probably sounds completely ridiculous to most people.

I’m trying to find an old Stanley 16-foot tape measure.

The specific one I’m looking for has these features:

16 feet

3/4" wide tape

Black button

3 rivets

Gray end of the hook

Flat back

My boyfriend has been looking for this particular tape measure for years. He has searched high and low for one and has never been able to find the exact version he remembers.

And for the last year, I’ve been looking too.

I know. 😂 A tape measure probably isn't what most people would consider a romantic anniversary gift.

But here’s why I’m so determined to find it.

I’ve known this man for most of my life, but a year ago we finally found our way to each other. I came into this relationship at a time when I was more broken than I think he even realized, and somehow he helped heal a part of me that he never had anything to do with breaking.

That’s just who he is.

He fixes things. He builds things. He takes pieces of wood that other people would throw away and somehow turns them into something beautiful.

He’s a cabinet maker, and I could honestly listen to him talk about his work for hours. And I do.

I’m a very visual person, so there have been countless times when he’s started explaining some machine that he is using or broke and he has to fix..a or piece of hardware or something he’s building, and I’ve literally Googled it while he’s talking just so I can picture what hes talking about. 😂 I want to understand the things that make his brain light up.

And this little tape measure is one of those things.

I know it may sound silly to you, but it is not to him and therefore it is not to me either...

I’ve found a few that are close. But not the one.

And I know this is probably going to sound completely insane, but our anniversary is at the end of this month, and I would LOVE to surprise him with it.

I don't have a huge budget. I’m not looking for something valuable or collectible. I’m not trying to flip it or resell it.

I just want to find thistape measure that this man has been searching for forever. 😂

If somebody has one sitting in a toolbox, garage, drawer, shop, or old junk pile that they don't use anymore… PLEASE message me!!

If you have one and are willing to part with it, I will figure out a way to pay you for it. If you know what model this is, know where I should look, know a retired woodworker who might have one, or even know the right terminology/model number I should be searching for, I would be incredibly grateful for any help.

I realize there are probably much more important things happening in the world than a woman desperately searching Reddit for a 16-foot Stanley tape measure.

But I love this man.

And if I had the money, I’d probably buy him every tool he’s ever wanted and fill an entire shop with everything he needs to make all the beautiful things I know are constantly bouncing around inside that incredible brain of his.

Maybe someday I’ll be able to do that.

For now, though, maybe I can give him one little thing that he thought he’d never find again.

So, Reddit…

Please tell me someone knows where this thing is.

Because somewhere out there, I have to believe there is an old Stanley tape measure sitting forgotten in somebody’s garage, and I am begging you to help me reunite it with a wonderful and talented man who has been looking for it for years.

❤️

And if I’ve completely butchered Reddit etiquette here, I apologize in advance. I’m just a woman on a mission. 😂

Okay, Reddit… I have absolutely no idea if I’m doing this right. I’ve never really used Reddit before, so if I’m breaking some kind of posting rule or putting this in the wrong place, please forgive me. 😂

I’m hoping some of you woodworking guys might be able to help me with something that probably sounds completely ridiculous to most people.

I’m trying to find an old Stanley 16-foot tape measure.

The specific one I’m looking for has these features:

16 feet

3/4" wide tape

Black button

3 rivets

Gray end of the hook

Flat back

My boyfriend has been looking for this particular tape measure for years. He has searched high and low for one and has never been able to find the exact version he remembers.

And for the last year, I’ve been looking too.

I know. 😂 A tape measure probably isn't what most people would consider a romantic anniversary gift.

But here’s why I’m so determined to find it.

I’ve known this man for most of my life, but a year ago we finally found our way to each other. I came into this relationship at a time when I was more broken than I think he even realized, and somehow he helped heal a part of me that he never had anything to do with breaking.

That’s just who he is.

He fixes things. He builds things. He takes pieces of wood that other people would throw away and somehow turns them into something beautiful.

He’s a cabinet maker, and I could honestly listen to him talk about his work for hours. And I do.

I’m a very visual person, so there have been countless times when he’s started explaining some machine that he is using or broke and he has to fix..a or piece of hardware or something he’s building, and I’ve literally Googled it while he’s talking just so I can picture what hes talking about. 😂 I want to understand the things that make his brain light up.

And this little tape measure is one of those things.

I know it may sound silly to you, but it is not to him and therefore it is not to me either...

I’ve found a few that are close. But not the one.

And I know this is probably going to sound completely insane, but our anniversary is at the end of this month, and I would LOVE to surprise him with it.

I don't have a huge budget. I’m not looking for something valuable or collectible. I’m not trying to flip it or resell it.

I just want to find thistape measure that this man has been searching for forever. 😂

If somebody has one sitting in a toolbox, garage, drawer, shop, or old junk pile that they don't use anymore… PLEASE message me!!

If you have one and are willing to part with it, I will figure out a way to pay you for it. If you know what model this is, know where I should look, know a retired woodworker who might have one, or even know the right terminology/model number I should be searching for, I would be incredibly grateful for any help.

I realize there are probably much more important things happening in the world than a woman desperately searching Reddit for a 16-foot Stanley tape measure.

But I love this man.

And if I had the money, I’d probably buy him every tool he’s ever wanted and fill an entire shop with everything he needs to make all the beautiful things I know are constantly bouncing around inside that incredible brain of his.

Maybe someday I’ll be able to do that.

For now, though, maybe I can give him one little thing that he thought he’d never find again.

So, Reddit…

Please tell me someone knows where this thing is.

Because somewhere out there, I have to believe there is an old Stanley tape measure sitting forgotten in somebody’s garage, and I am begging you to help me reunite it with the 44-year-old woodworker who has been looking for it for years.

❤️

And if I’ve completely butchered Reddit etiquette here, I apologize in advance. I’m just a woman on a mission. 😂